Toy poodle training can help you teach your dog many positive behaviors and help deter or put an end to less desirable traits, such as chewing, biting and barking. Therefore, it is often wise to begin teaching your canine as soon as he becomes part of your family so he has less time to develop annoying characteristics.

Toy poodles are small and they love to bark. Although barking is a form of communication for dogs, it can become excessive and instead of your pooch alerting you to certain needs or warnings, they can bark all the time for no particular reason other than to make noise. If your little four legged companion has become quite the barker, it’s time you engaged in some toy poodle training to help control the issue.

The following are some ideas on how you can control the barking:

Investigate – Don’t just assume that your poodle is using his voice for no reason. Sometimes all he needs is to know that you have been alerted. If he is alerting you to something, such a person approaching your home, strange noise, etc., pet his head, praise him and then go about your business.

Silencing command – If he will not stop barking after you have assessed the situation and told him it’s alright, give him a command to silence him, such as “Quiet!” This should be said in a firm tone but not in a shout or a yell because the louder or higher your voice sounds the more of a chance your pooch will interpret the sound as a bark, which may make the problem worse. To help him understand the meaning of your toy poodle training, when you say quiet, hold your hand gently over his snout to show him you want him to stop. When he does cease making his racket praise him and reward.

Distract him from the problem – Sometimes, the best way to control barks is to remove your dog from the situation. This may mean taking him out of the room or telling him to sit or lie down or giving him some other command.

Don’t let him have the last word – You need to be consistent. Once you have commanded him to stop, if he makes another bark in protest, repeat the command or provide him with another instruction. Never let him get away with talking back, you should always have the last word. If you let him speak after you have told him not to and do not correct him, you are letting him defy you and he will make a habit of not listening to you. Be consistent!

Last, but not least, always remember that aside from toy poodle training, providing your pal with daily exercise, attention and care keeps him happy, and a happy dog is less likely to become bored and bark for no reason.